Just as we were starting to think the Fantastic Four casting rumours were slowing down, another has found its way online today.
First reported by Giant Freakin Robot before being backed up by Jeff Sneider on The Hot Mic podcast, it sounds like Oppenheimer and 30 Days of Night star Josh Hartnett is being eyed for the role of Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom in the upcoming reboot.
Interestingly, Sneider states that Doom is only expected to play a minor role in Fantastic Four, either in the movie's closing moments or during a post-credits scene.
It's wise of Marvel Studios to put Doom on the back burner for now, particularly after the villain was put front and centre in all three previous live-action movies (where he was played by Julian McMahon and Toby Kebbell).
Galactus is expected to be the big bad of Matt Shakman's movie, with an unnamed Herald - likely not Silver Surfer - expected to be at the side of the Devourer of Worlds. Based on this latest rumour, we'd guess the idea is for Doom to take aim at Marvel's First Family in an eventual sequel.
As of now, it appears Vanessa Kirby and Joseph Quinn are a lock for Invisible Woman and the Human Torch respectively.
Antonio Banderas supposedly remains in the mix to star as Galactus, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach may end up playing the aforementioned Herald or, based on recent reports, The Thing.
When it comes to the leader of the team, Adam Driver (Star Wars) and Matt Smith (Morbius) are both said to be in the mix for Mister Fantastic.
No official announcements will be made until the SAG-AFTRA strike ends and work on the movie's script is thought to have been halted thanks to the WGA strike. Whether that leads to a release date delay remains to be seen.
For now, though, Fantastic Four is set to be released in theaters on May 2, 2025.